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UPS threatens to cancel A380 order

Any more delays and the deal's off

United Parcel Service (UPS) will cancel its order for 10 freight versions of the A380 superjumbo if there are any further delays to a revised delivery schedule, the BBC reports.

UPS had been due to take the controls off its shiny new aircraft between 2009 and 2012, but the A380's wiring woes - which have set the whole programme back by around two years - meant that the first example would be eight months late.

The new contract allows UPS to cancel the order altogether if the rejigged delivery dates are not met. UPS and Airbus have agreed not to disclose exactly what those dates are.

If UPS does bin the $2.8bn order, it's pretty much the end of the freight A380, since it's the only remaining customer for the type. FedEx cancelled its order last year.

Airbus now says the first passenger-carrying A380 will be delivered in October. We shall see. ®